Local Bartells store teams and generous customers raise over $500,000 this holiday season

December 15, 2020

SEATTLE– In a year of challenges and uncertainty, one thing has remained constant and that is the caring generosity of the Puget Sound communities as they’ve come together at local Bartell Drugs to support others BIG in three different ways.

2020 marks the 18th year of Toy ‘N Joy between the local chapter of the Salvation Army, radio station WARM 106.9 and Bartell’s. With the enthusiastic and tireless support of Bartell’s frontline cashiers along with the generosity of customers, a staggering $310,000 was raised in a four-week period with 100% of the proceeds going toward toys to brighten the holiday season for area families in need.

“Bartell’s has a long-standing history of supporting our local communities. As we move to a new era with the sale of the company to Rite Aid, we are extremely proud to show the soon-to-be new owners the dedication of our store teams to the needs of others,” said Kathi Lentzsch, CEO and president of Bartell Drugs. “We are truly humbled by the remarkable giving and generosity of our loyal customers and neighbors this year and over the past 130 years.”

The second holiday program at Bartell Drugs supports longtime partner, Seattle Children’s Hospital. Trading cards by TOPPS featuring Seattle athletes, performers and ambassadors with one autographed card per box are exclusively available at Bartell’s with 100% of the proceeds benefiting Seattle Children’s Hospital. Howie Cohen, Category Manager for General Merchandised at Bartell’s said, “We received 10,000 sets of Topps cards and the interest and sales of the cards have been off the charts!, I’m overwhelmed at what our customers and store staff have done in terms of helping to raise $250,000 dollars for Children’s.” At this time, there is a very limited and small inventory of Topps Cards remaining with 85% of the cards sold. Check with your neighborhood Bartell’s on availability.

Rounding out this year’s Holiday Giving Trifecta, the third event at Bartell’s is Keep Music Live (KML). Keep Music Live aspires to raise more than $10 million to provide Washington’s independent music venues with the critical financial support needed to survive while closed through the pandemic. Bartell Drugs is proud to support these local organizations as the exclusive retailer selling Keep Music Live merchandise with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the KML fundraising campaign and to date has generated more $6,500 in donations. “We are thrilled to have Bartell Drugs as a partner in this campaign. Their support will help raise awareness of Keep Music Live WA and help us in our mission to provide grant relief funding to Washington’s community-based music venues,” said Manny Cawaling, Board President of Keep Music Live WA. Visit your neighborhood store or Bartelldrugs.com/holiday-gift-guide for merchandise.

The Puget Sound communities have shown how much they care about their neghbors during this unusual Holiday season. Their generosity has driven close to $600,000 in proceeds through Bartell Drugs for these three deserving organizations, making the largest impact to date of any charitable drives that Bartell’s has done in its 130-year history.

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About Bartell Drugs: Operating 67 locations in King, Snohomish and Pierce counties and serving the Northwest since 1890, locally owned Bartell Drugs is dedicated to providing extraordinary service that advances health, happiness and wellbeing. For more information on Bartell Drugs, visit www.bartelldrugs.com.

Media Contacts:
Steven Frestedt, VP of Marketing, Bartell Drugs, Steven.Frestedt@bartelldrugs.com
Jaime Nordstrom, Executive Assistant, Bartell Drugs, Jaime.Nordstrom@bartelldrugs.com